Watertight Vehicle Airduct System

ABSTRACT

A duct for a vehicle includes an inlet fluidly coupled to an interior of the vehicle and an outlet fluidly coupled to the inlet. A buoyant closure member is disposed between the inlet and the outlet and is movable between an open position permitting flow between the inlet and the outlet and a closed position preventing flow between the inlet and the outlet. The buoyant closure member is normally in the open position and is movable from the open position to the closed position in response to a predetermined volume of water entering the outlet.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a venting system for a vehicle and,more particularly, to a submergible venting system for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Conventional vehicles typically include at least one body exhauster topermit airflow from within a passenger compartment of a vehicle to anarea generally outside of the vehicle. Such body exhausters allow aheating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit to draw in,condition, and circulate air within a vehicle while permitting airdisposed within the passenger compartment of the vehicle to be exhaustedthrough the body exhauster to maintain the passenger compartment at apredetermined pressure. Such body exhausters allow one-way communicationbetween the passenger compartment and an area outside of the vehiclesuch that air is permitted to exit the vehicle white debris and outsideair is restricted from entering the vehicle. While conventional bodyexhausters adequately vent a passenger compartment of a vehicle whileconcurrently preventing debris and outside air from entering thepassenger compartment of the vehicle, conventional body exhausterscannot typically be located near or on a lower surface of a vehicle, asconventional body exhausters cannot prevent entry of water into thevehicle should a lower portion of the vehicle become submerged in water.

SUMMARY

A duct for a vehicle includes an inlet fluidly coupled to an interior ofthe vehicle and an outlet fluidly coupled to the inlet. A buoyantclosure member is disposed between the inlet and the outlet and ismovable between an open position permitting flow between the inlet andthe outlet and a closed position preventing flow between the inlet andthe outlet. The buoyant closure member is normally in the open positionand is movable from the open position to the closed position in responseto a predetermined volume of water entering the outlet.

A vehicle includes a floor pan defining at least one cavity with a heatexchanger being disposed within the at least one cavity. A passagewaydirects air through the heat exchanger and toward a wall of the at leastone cavity. A duct is fixedly attached to the wall of the at least onecavity and includes a closure member movable between an open positionpermitting air received from the heat exchanger to exit the at least onecavity and a closed position preventing fluid from entering the at leastone cavity.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended forpurposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a vehicle incorporating athermal-management system, an energy system, and a submergible duct inaccordance with the present teachings;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the submergible duct in accordancewith the principles of the present teachings incorporating a floatingdoor;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a submergible duct in accordancewith the principles of the present teachings incorporating a ball float;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a submergible duct in accordancewith the principles of the present teachings incorporating a floatingdoor;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a submergible duct in accordancewith the principles of the present teachings incorporating a floatingdoor disposed on a bottom surface thereof;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a submergible duct in accordancewith the principles of the present teachings incorporating a floatingdoor; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a submergible duct in accordancewith the principles of the present teachings incorporating a buoyantclosure member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no wayintended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

With reference to the figures, a duct assembly 10 is provided for avehicle 12. The duct assembly 10 permits communication of air fromwithin an interior of the vehicle 12 to an exterior of the vehicle 12while concurrently restricting air from traveling through the ductassembly 10 and into the interior of the vehicle 12. The duct assembly10 also restricts fluid such as, for example, water, from entering theinterior of the vehicle 12 should the vehicle 12 be submerged in apredetermined volume of water.

The duct assembly 10 may extend through a body panel 14 of the vehicle12 such as a floor pan 16. As shown in FIG. 1, the duct assembly 10 mayextend through a side wall 18 of a well 20 formed in the floor pan 16 ofthe vehicle 12. Because the well 20 is formed in the floor pan 16 of thevehicle 12, the well 20 extends generally towards a driving surface(i.e., a road, etc.). The duct assembly 10 permits communication betweenan interior volume 22 of the well 20 and an exterior of the vehicle 12.While the duct assembly 10 permits communication from the interiorvolume 22 of the well 20 to the exterior of the vehicle 12, the ductassembly 10 restricts communication from an area outside the vehicle 12to the interior volume 22 of the well 20. Such communication from theinterior volume 22 of the well 20 permits air from within an interior ofthe vehicle 12 to be exhausted to an air outside of the vehicle 12through the duct assembly 10.

Exhausting air from the interior volume 22 of the well 20 may berequired if a thermal-management system 24 is disposed within the well20. For example, thermal-management system 24 may be used to cool anenergy system 26 that provides power to the vehicle 12 to propel thevehicle 12 and/or to provide power to subsystems of the vehicle 12.

If an energy system 26 is disposed within the well 20, heat generated byoperation of the energy system 26 must be removed from the well 20 bythe thermal-management system 24. The thermal-management system 24 mayinclude a heat exchanger 28, a series of conduits 30, and a fan 32 thatcooperate to cool a series of batteries 34 of the energy system 26 toremove such heat.

The heat exchanger 28 may be disposed within an inlet duct 36 and mayinclude a refrigerant disposed therein for cooling the batteries 34. Acompressor not shown may impart a force on the refrigerant disposedwithin the heat exchanger 28 to circulate the refrigerant between theheat exchanger 28 and the batteries 34 via conduits 30. Circulation ofrefrigerant between the heat exchanger and the batteries 34 will permitheat from the batteries 34 to be absorbed by the refrigerant disposedwithin the conduits 30 and be transferred to the heat exchanger 28. Theheat absorbed by the refrigerant will be rejected at the heat exchanger28 and may be transferred to air drawn into the well 20 by the fan 32via the inlet duct 36.

The fan 32 may impart a fluid force on an outlet 38 of the inlet duct 36to draw air through the heat exchanger 28. Drawing air through the heatexchanger 28 will cause the heat rejected by the refrigerant via theheat exchanger 28 to be drawn through the heat exchanger 28 andgenerally into an outlet duct 40. The heated air drawn through the heatexchanger 28 and into the outlet duct 40 may be expelled from aninterior of the vehicle 12 through the duct assembly 10. The forceexerted on the air flowing through the heat exchanger 12 will cause theheated air flow to travel along the outlet duct 40 and pass through theside wall 18 of the floor pan 16 to allow the heated air to escape theinterior volume 22 of the well 20 and be exhausted into an area outsideof the vehicle 12. Because the well 20 extends generally towards asurface over which the vehicle 12 may travel, the heated air receivedthrough the heat exchanger 28 and from the outlet duct 40 will beexpelled generally in an area between a bottom of the floor pan 16 andthe surface over which the vehicle 12 is traveling. Positioning the ductassembly 10 in a location generally on a bottom surface of the floor pan16 to permit communication of heated air through the side wall 18 of thewell 20 adequately vents the heated air info an area exterior of thevehicle 12. However, positioning the duct assembly 10 on a bottomsurface of the vehicle 12 exposes the duct assembly 10 to debris as wellas environmental conditions such as rain, snow, and ice.

As indicated above, the duct assembly 10 permits air to flow from aninterior of the vehicle 12 to an exterior of the vehicle 12 andconcurrently prevents air flow from entering the interior of the vehicle12 through the duct assembly 10. The duct assembly 10 also restrictsflow of water and other debris into the interior of the vehicle 12 whenthe vehicle 12 is either driven through wet conditions (i.e., rain,snow, etc.) or when the vehicle 12 is submerged in water such that abottom surface of the floor pan 16 is in contact with or under water.

With reference to FIG. 2, the duct assembly 10 is shown to include ahousing 42, a closure member 44 disposed within the housing 42, and apair of check valves 46 supported by the housing 42. The housing 42 mayinclude a torturous path extending between an inlet 48 and an outlet 50,whereby the inlet 48 is fluidly coupled to the outlet duct 40 andreceives air from the outlet duct 40. A door 52 may be disposedproximate to the inlet 48 to permit flow from the outlet duct 40 throughthe inlet 48 and to restrict flow from passing through the housing 42and into the outlet duct 40. In one configuration, the door 52 ishingedly supported by the housing 42 by a pivot 54. The pivot 54 permitsthe door 52 to rotate in a clockwise direction relative to the viewshown in FIG. 2 to permit air to flow out of the outlet duct 40 and intothe housing 42, as shown in FIG. 2.

While the pivot 54 permits the door 52 to rotate in a clockwisedirection relative to the view shown in FIG. 2 to allow the door 52 toreturn from an open position (FIG. 2) to a closed position, the door 52is restricted from pivoting into the inlet 48, as the door 52 includes asufficient length and width to fully cover the inlet 48 of the housing42. Therefore, when air travels into the outlet 50 of the housing 42 andengages the door 52, the force exerted on the door 52 causes the door 52to move into the closed position and seal the inlet 48. Sealing theinlet 48 prevents fluid such as air and/or water from entering thehousing 42 at the outlet 52 from entering the outlet duct 40 via theinlet 48 of the housing 42. In essence, the door 52 serves as a checkvalve permitting flow from the outlet duct 40 into the housing 42 andrestricting flow from the housing 42 into the outlet duct 40 via theinlet 48 of the housing 42.

The closure member 44 is disposed within the housing 42 generallybetween the inlet 48 and the outlet 50 and may include a support member56 and a door 58. The door 58 may be relatively supported by the supportmember 56 and may be formed from a buoyant material, such as, forexample, foam, santoprene or various polymers (i.e., nylon) molded withan encapsulated air pocket. The door 58 may be rotatably supported bythe support member 56 between an open position (FIG. 2) and a closedposition.

The door 58 may be positioned proximate to a bottom surface of thesupport member 56 such that gravity maintains the door 58 in the openposition to allow fluid received at the inlet 48 of the housing 42 totravel through the housing 42 and towards the outlet 50. The door 58 ismaintained in the open position until the housing 42 of the ductassembly 10 is submerged in a predetermined volume of water, as will bedescribed below.

When the duct assembly 10 is submerged in a predetermined volume ofwater, water may enter the housing 42 at the outlet 50 and begin to fillthe housing 42. When a sufficient volume of water enters the housing 42,the water will rise and engage the door 58, thereby causing the door 58to rotate in a clockwise direction relative to the view shown in FIG. 2from the open position to the closed position. Rotation of the door 58from the open position to the closed position is caused by the buoyantnature of the door material floating on the rising water disposed withinthe housing 42. When the volume of water reaches a predetermined heightwithin the housing 42, the door 58 is rotated sufficiently in theclockwise direction relative to view shown in FIG. 2 such that the door58 engages the support member 56 to prevent water from traveling throughthe support member 56 and reaching the inlet 48 of the housing 42.

While the door 58 cooperates with the support member 56 to prevent waterfrom traveling through the support member 56 and reaching the door 52proximate to the inlet 48 of the housing 42, some water may travelthrough the support member 56 and be received within the housing 42proximate to the door 52. Such water may splash through the supportmember 56, as the water rises within the housing 42 prior to the door 58being moved into the fully closed position. Furthermore, such water maytravel through the support member 56 when the duct assembly 10 is notfully submerged in water, but when the vehicle 12 is driven through wetconditions (i.e., rain, snow, etc.).

While the volume of water entering the housing 42 and passing throughthe support member 56 may not be sufficient to flow through the inlet 48of the housing 42 and into the outlet duct 40, if the water is permittedto collect generally at the bottom of the housing 42, such water maybecome stagnant and, over time, begin to emit a foul odor. To preventwater from collecting at a bottom of the housing 42, the check valves 46are disposed at low points of the housing 42 (i.e. at a bottom of aP-trap, for example) to allow any water that collects within the housing42 to drain from the housing 42. The check valves 46 permit flow fromwithin the housing 42 but restrict flow of water into the housing 42. Ascan be appreciated, if the check valves 46 were simply apertures formedthrough a bottom surface of the housing 42, water would both drain fromthe housing 42 and could also enter the housing 42 via such apertures.Therefore, using check valves 46 allows water to escape the housing 42while concurrently preventing water from entering the housing 42.

The housing 42 may also include a debris shield 60 disposed along a pathof the housing 42. The debris shield 60 may extend across the outlet 50of the housing 42 or may be positioned at any location along a length ofthe housing 42 generally between the outlet 50 and the door 58 toprevent debris from reaching the door 58. The debris screen 60 maypermit water and air to pass therethrough but will prevent large objectssuch as, for example, rocks, from entering the housing 42 and damagingthe door 58. Preventing such debris from entering the duct assembly 10not only maintains the integrity of the door 58, but prevents suchobjects from rattling within the housing 42 and creating undesirablenoise.

Positioning the outlet 50 such that the outlet 50 opposes the floor pan16, allows air to easily escape the outlet 50 while concurrentlyreducing the likelihood of water from splashing info the housing 42 viathe outlet 50. Furthermore, positioning the outlet 50 in such a fashionalso helps prevent noise from entering the housing 42 and creating anundesirable condition. While some noise will enter the housing 42regardless of the position of the outlet 50, positioning the outlet 50proximate to a bottom surface of the floor pan 16 helps reduce theamount of noise that enters the housing 42 such noise may be mitigatedby the tortuous path defined by the shape of the housing 42 and isprevented from reaching the interior volume 22 of the well 20.

With reference to FIG. 3, a duct assembly 10 a is provided. In view ofthe substantial similarity in structure and function of the componentsassociated with the duct assembly 10 with respect to the duct assembly10 a, like reference numerals are used hereinafter in the drawings toidentify like components while like reference numerals containing letterextensions are used to identify those components that have beenmodified.

The duct assembly 10 a includes a housing 42, a closure member 44 a, andcheck valves 46. The closure member 44 a is disposed generally betweenan inlet 48 and an outlet 50 of the housing 42 and may include a supportmember 56 a and a ball stop 62. The ball stop 62 selectively engages thesupport member 56 a to prevent communication between the outlet 50 andthe inlet 48 of the housing 42 when the duct assembly 10 a is submergedin a predetermine volume of water. The ball stop 62 is moveable betweenan open position (FIG. 3) and a closed position and may be supported bya debris shield 60 a having a generally “V” shape when in the openposition.

During operation, air may be received through the inlet 48 of thehousing 42 from the outlet duct 40 and may travel through the housing 42towards the outlet 50. Air from the outlet duct 40 is permitted to flowthrough the support member 56 a when the ball stop 62 is in the openposition. The air flows generally around the ball stop 62 towards theoutlet 50 and exits the housing 42 at the outlet 50.

Should air be received at the outlet 50 of the housing 42, the air ispermitted to flow around the ball stop 62, when the ball stop 62 is inthe open position. Air flowing around the ball stop 62 is prevented fromreaching the outlet duct 40 by the door 52 disposed proximate to theinlet 48 of the housing 42.

When the duct assembly 10 a is submerged in a predetermined volume ofwater, water may fill the housing 42 at the outlet 50. Once a sufficientvolume of water enters the housing 42, the water will impart a force onthe ball stop 62 and cause the ball stop 62 to move away from the debrisshield 60 a and toward the support member 56. Sufficient movement of theball stop 62 away from the debris shield 60 a causes the ball stop 62 toengage the support member 56 a and prevent water from passing throughthe support member 56 and reaching the inlet 48 of the housing 42.Movement of the ball stop 62 away from the support member 56 a isfacilitated by formation of the ball stop 62 from a buoyant material, asdescribed above with regard to the closure member 44 of the ductassembly 10. As with the duct assembly 10, any residual water remainingin the housing 42 may escape the housing 42 via the check valves 46.

With particular reference to FIG. 4, a duct assembly 10 b is provided.In view of the substantial similarity in structure and function of thecomponents associated with the duct assembly 10 with respect to the ductassembly 10 b, like reference numerals are used hereinafter and in thedrawings to identify like components while like reference numeralscontaining letter extensions are used to identify those components thathave been modified.

The duct assembly 10 b includes a housing 42 b, a closure member 44, anda check valve 46. The housing 42 b includes an inlet 48 b fluidlycoupled to an outlet duct 40 and an outlet 50 b facing away from abottom surface of the floor pan 16 of the vehicle 12. The closure member44 includes a support member 56 and a door 58 hingedly supportedproximate to the support member 56 between an open position and a closedposition. The door 58 is biased into the open position under the forceof gravity and may be moved into the closed position by a force appliedto the door 58 when the duct assembly 10 b is submerged in apredetermined volume of water. Movement of the door 58 into the closedposition from the open position is facilitated by forming the door 58from a buoyant material, as described above with regard to the ductassembly 10.

In operation, air is permitted to flow through the outlet duct 40 andinto the housing 42 b via the inlet 48 b. Air flows through the housing42 b and may escape the housing 42 b by flowing through the supportmember 56 of the closure member 44 and finally through the outlet 50 bof the housing 42 b. Air is restricted from flowing into the outlet duct40 by the door 52 as described above with respect to the duct assembly10.

When the duct assembly 10 b is submerged in water, water flows into theoutlet 50 b and applies a force to door 58, thereby, causing the door 58to rotate in a counterclockwise direction relative to the view shown inFIG. 4. Sufficient rotation of the door 58 in the counterclockwisedirection relative to the view shown in FIG. 4 causes the door 58 tomove into the closed position to prevent the water from furthermigrating into the housing 42 b. Cooperation between the support member56 and door 58 prevents the water from filling the housing 42 b andtherefore prevents the water from entering the outlet duct 40.

As described above with regard to the duct assembly 10, the check valve46 may be positioned in a P-trap of the housing 42 b (i.e., a low pointof the housing 42 b) to permit water that has collected in the housing42 b to escape the housing 42 b while concurrently preventing water fromentering the housing 42 b via the check valve 46.

As shown in FIG. 4, the inlet 48 b is shown generally proximate to anupper portion of the housing 42 b. Positioning the inlet 48 b proximateto an upper portion of the housing 42 b further reduces the likelihoodof water entering the outlet duct 40. As can be appreciated, positioningthe inlet 48 b proximate to an upper portion of the housing 42 brequires a greater volume of water to enter the housing 42 b beforereaching the inlet 48 b and, thus, the outlet duct 40 b. Positioning theinlet 48 b of the housing 42 b in such a manner further safeguardsagainst water reaching the outlet duct 40 should the duct assembly 10 bbe submerged in water.

With reference to FIG. 5, a duct assembly 10 c is provided. In view ofthe substantial similarity in structure and function of the componentsassociated with the duct assembly 10 with respect to the duct assembly10 c, like reference numerals are used hereinafter and in the drawingsto identify like components while like reference numerals containingfetter extensions are used to identified those components that have beenmodified.

The duct assembly 10 c includes the housing 42 c, a closure member 44 c,and a series of check valves 46. The closure member 44 c is disposedgenerally between an inlet 48 of the housing 42 c and an outlet 50 ofthe housing 42 c. The closure member 44 includes a support member 56 anda door 58 hingedly supported proximate to the support member 56 betweenan open position and a closed position. The door 58 is biased into theopen position under the force of gravity and engages the housing 42 cwhen in the open position. In this position, the door 58 permits flowfrom the inlet 48 to the outlet 50 and permits flow from the outlet 50to the inlet 48. As with the duct assembly 10, air is restricted fromentering the outlet duct 40 due to engagement between the door 52 andthe inlet 48.

When the duct assembly 10 c is submerged in a predetermined volume ofwater, water first contacts a bottom surface of the housing 42 c andpasses through a debris shield 60 c disposed between a pair of checkvalues 46. When the water initially passes through the debris shield 60c, the water encounters the door 58 and applies a force on a door 58.Because the door 58 is formed from a buoyant material, as describedabove with regard to duct assembly 10, the door 58 rotates in thecounterclockwise direction relative to the view shown in FIG. 5.Sufficient rotation of the door 58 in the counterclockwise directionrelative to the view shown in FIG. 5 causes the door 58 to engage thesupport member 56 and move into the closed position. When the door 58 isin the closed position, the door 58 abuts the support member 56 andprevents the water entering the housing 42 c from passing through thesupport member 56 and therefore prevents the water from reaching theinlet 48 of the housing 42 c.

Should water pass through the door 58, a pair of check valves 46 aredisclosed within the housing 42 c upstream of the support member 56 toallow the water to drain from the housing 42 c prior to the waterreaching the inlet 48. In addition, an interior wall 64 of the housing42 c is positioned generally between the support member 56 and the inlet48. The overall height of the interior wall 64 would require asufficient amount of water to fill the housing 42 prior to allowing thewall to spill over and engage the inlet 48. Water is prevented fromreaching such a volume due to the check valve 46 disposed at a base ofthe wall 64 generally proximate to the support member 56.

With reference to FIG. 6, a duct assembly 10 d is provided. In view ofthe substantial similarity and structure and function of the componentsassociate with the duct assembly 10 with respect to the duct assembly 10d, like reference numerals are used hereinafter and in the drawings toidentify like components while like reference numerals containing letterextensions are used to identify those components that have beenmodified.

The duct assembly 10 d includes a housing 42 d, a closure member 44 d,and a series of check valves 46. The housing includes an inlet 48 and anoutlet 50 with the closure member 44 d being disposed generally betweenthe inset 48 and the outlet 50.

The closure member 44 includes a support member 56 d and a door 58 dmoveable relative to the support member between an open position and aclosed position. The door 58 d is slidably supported by a post 66 thatmay be integrally formed with the housing 42 d. As with the ductassembly 10, the door 58 d is formed from a buoyant material to allowwater entering the housing 42 d to impart a force on and move the door58 d towards the support member 56 d to seal off the housing 42 d andprevent further entry of water into the housing 42 d.

In operation, air flow from the outlet duct 40 is received at the inlet48 of the housing 42 d and is permitted to travel into the housing 42 dthrough the inlet 48 and door 52. The air flow is permitted to travelthrough the support member 56 d and out of the housing 42 d via theoutlet 50. Air is also permitted to enter the housing 42 d at the outlet50 and travel though the support member 56 d generally towards the inlet48 of the housing 42 d. While the air is permitted to flow towards theinlet 48, air is restricted from reaching the outlet duct 40 due toengagement between the door 52 and the inlet 48 of the housing 42 d, aspreviously discussed with regard to the duct assembly 10.

When the duct assembly 10 d is submerged in a predetermined volume ofwater, water enters the housing generally at the outlet 50 of thehousing 42 d. When a sufficient volume of water enters the housing 42 d,the water imparts a force on the door 58 d, thereby causing the door 58d to float and move away from the post 66 generally towards the supportmember 56 d.

When the volume of water entering the housing 42 d is sufficient tocause the door 58 d to engage the support member 56 d, water isprevented from further traveling into the housing 42 d due to engagementbetween the door 58 d and the support member 56 d. Therefore, engagementbetween the door 58 d and the support member 56 d prevents water frompassing through the support member 56 d and reaching the outlet duct 40via the inlet 48 of the housing 42 d. As described above with respect tothe duct assembly 10, any water that remains in the housing 42 d willexit the housing 42 d via the check valves 46 disposed at variouslocations of the housing 42 d.

With particular reference to FIG. 7, a duct assembly 10 e is provided.In view of the substantial similarity in structure and function of thecomponents associated with the duct assembly 10 with respect to the ductassembly 10 e, like reference numerals are used hereinafter and in thedrawings to identify like components while like reference numeralscontaining letter extensions are used to identify those components thathave been modified.

The duct assembly 10 e includes a housing 42 e, a closure member 44 e,and a check valve 46. The closure member 44 e is positioned generallybetween an inlet 48 of the housing 42 e and an outlet 50 of the housing42 e.

The closure member 44 e includes and is supported by a series of posts68 attached to the support member 56 e. The posts 68 may be intricatelyformed with the support member 56 e and extend generally away from thesupport member 56 e and from the outlet 50 of the housing 42 e. When thedoor 58 e is in an open position, the door 58 e rests on the posts 68and when the door is in a closed position, the door 58 e is disengagedfrom the posts 68. As with the duct assembly 10, the door 58 e is formedfrom a buoyant material to allow the door 58 e to be moved between theopen position and the closed position when the housing 42 e is submergedin a predetermined volume of water.

In operation, air from the outlet duct 40 is received by the housing 42e via the inlet 48 and door 52. The air is permitted to travel throughthe housing 42 e and around the door 58 e of the closure member 44 e.Because the closure member 44 e is supported by the series of posts 68,air flowing around the door 58 e is permitted to travel around the posts68 and pass through the support member 56 e prior to exiting the housing42 e via the outlet 50. Similarly, when air is received at the outlet 50of the housing 42 e, air travels through the support member 56 andaround the posts 68 prior to traveling around the door 58 e. While theair is permitted to travel through the support member 56, and around thedoor 58 e, the air is restricted from entering the outlet duct 40 due toengagement between 52 and the inlet 48 of the housing 42 e.

When the duct assembly 10 e is submerged in a predetermined volume ofwater, water enters the housing 42 e generally at the outlet 50. When asufficient volume of water enters the housing 42 e, the water travelsthrough the support member 56 e and around the posts 68. The waterengages the door 58 e, thereby causing the door 58 e to rotate in acounterclockwise direction relative to the view shown in FIG. 7 and moveoff of the posts 68. The door 58 e continues to move in thecounterclockwise direction relative to the view shown in FIG. 7 prior toengaging a stop 70 formed in the housing 42 e. Engagement between thedoor 58 e and the stop 70 of the housing 42 e restricts further rotationof the door 58 e relative to the housing 42 e. When the door 58 e isengaged with the stop 70 of the housing 42 e, water is restricted fromtraveling through the door 58 e and further into the housing 42 e.Therefore, the engagement between a door 58 e and the stop 70 of thehousing 42 e prevents the incoming water from entering the outlet duct40 via the inlet 48 of the housing 42 e. The door 58 e may be hinged atone end to facilitate movement of the door 58 e relevant to the housing42 e.

As with the duct assembly 10, any water that passes through the door 58e during submersion of the duct assembly 10 e or that enters the housing42 e during operation of the vehicle 12 in wet driving conditions (i.e.,rain, snow, etc.), will drain from the housing 42 e via the check valve46.

The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and,thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention areintended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations arenot to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. A duct for a vehicle, the duct comprising: an inlet fluidly coupledto an interior of the vehicle; an outlet fluidly coupled to said inlet;and a buoyant closure member disposed between said inlet and said outletand movable between an open position permitting flow between said inletand said outlet and a closed position preventing flow between said inletand said outlet, said buoyant closure member normally in said openposition and movable from said open position to said closed position inresponse to a predetermined volume of water entering said outlet.
 2. Theduct of claim 1, wherein said buoyant closure member is pivotablyattached at one end to a wall of the duct.
 3. The duct of claim 1,wherein said buoyant closure member includes a ball float supportedwithin the duct between said inlet and said outlet and movable from saidopen position to said closed position.
 4. The duct of claim 1, furthercomprising a debris screen disposed between said buoyant closure memberand said outlet to prevent debris from entering the duct via saidoutlet.
 5. The duct of claim 1, further comprising a door disposedproximate to said inlet and movable between an open position permittingflow from said inlet to said outlet and a closed position preventingflow from said outlet to said inlet, said door normally in said closedposition.
 6. The duct of claim 1, further comprising at least one checkvalve disposed between said inlet and said outlet.
 7. The duct of claim6, wherein said check valve is movable between an open positionpermitting fluid to exit the duct and a closed position preventing entryof fluid into the duct.
 8. The duct of claim 7, wherein at least onecheck valve is movable from said open position to said closed positionunder fluid pressure applied to an exterior surface of the duct.
 9. Theduct of claim 1, wherein the duct includes at least one bend betweensaid inlet and said outlet defining a torturous path between said inletand said outlet.
 10. The duct of claim 1, wherein said inlet is attachedand fluidly coupled to a floor pan of the vehicle.
 11. A vehiclecomprising: a floor pan defining at least one cavity; a heat exchangerdisposed within said at least one cavity; a passageway directing airthrough said heat exchanger and toward a wall of said at least onecavity; and a duct fixedly attached to said wall of said at least onecavity and including a closure member movable between an open positionpermitting air received from said heat exchanger to exit said at leastone cavity and a closed position preventing fluid from entering said atleast one cavity.
 12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein said closuremember is buoyant and is movable from said open position to said closedposition in response to said duct being submerged in a predeterminedvolume of water.
 13. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein said duct includesat least one check valve.
 14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein at leastone check valve is movable from said open position to said closedposition under fluid pressure applied to an exterior surface of theduct.
 15. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the duel includes at leastone bend between said inlet and said outlet defining a torturous pathbetween said inlet and said outlet.
 16. The vehicle of claim 11, whereinsaid duct includes said inlet and an outlet fluidly coupled to saidinlet, said duct defining a torturous path between said inlet and saidoutlet.
 17. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein said closure member ispivotably attached to said duct.
 18. The vehicle of claim 11, whereinsaid closure member includes a ball float.
 19. The vehicle of claim 11,further comprising a door disposed proximate to said inlet forpermitting fluid to exit said at least one cavity in an open positionand to restrict fluid from entering said at least one cavity in a closedposition, said door normally in said closed position.